Bush Supports Ukraine’s Bid to Join NATO

I. Citation:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/world/europe/02prexy.html?pagewanted=1&ref=europe

April 2, 2008

Bush Supports Ukraine’s Bid to Join NATO

II. Summary:
Recently the Ukraine has decided that it would like to be in the NATO alliance. The reason for conflict in this situation the fact that NATO has never been allied with the Soviets (Russia), however the Ukraine is part of Russia. President Bush has recently visited Europe, and has expressed his support for the Ukraine entering the NATO alliance. President Bush believes that it will help the region grow stronger and promote more peace. Since a country needs a majority vote to be inducted into the NATO alliance and the countries already in the NATO alliance are presently voting on this fact. The Ukraine hopes that by being part of the NATO alliance it will ensure their country’s safety. The countries of the NATO alliance are hesitant in doing this because they fear it will “antagonize” Russia.III. Reactions:

A) This article and situation relates to State-building, expansion and conflict, this article was mainly about the old conflicts between two different groups of alliances and how they are changing today. The NATO alliance ensures a country’s safety and support if ever there was a conflict between a country in the NATO alliance, and an country outside of the NATO alliance.

B) This issue relates back to the two alliances in Europe. The NATO alliance and the Soviet Union were formed around the same time as world war two. The Soviets mainly included Russia, and the NATO included France, Germany, and other countries.

C) This article seems to have been written by an American reporter. The reporter does have many facts; however they are just accounts and facts about the current situation. There is little to no inside knowledge about this situation, and its voting status between these countries.

D) I don’t believe that the writer of this article was very biased either way. However, there may be some facts favoring the NATO alliance because Americans are apart of the NATO allaiance and not the Soviet Union.

E) I think that it would be very interesting to hear from a Russian leader. Mainly because in the article the NATO alliance countries expressed concern for the fact that taking the Ukraine into the NATO alliance may anger Russia. Also because I believe that many Russian leaders would be outraged at the fact that a part of their country wants to join forces with their enemy. And also it would be interesting to hear what the Russians will do to the Ukraine if it is not allowed into the NATO alliance and is forced back with the Soviets.

F) When I first read this article it reminded me of eight grade social studies when we studied world war two and about the two different alliances in Europe. I understand that the Ukraine would like to be apart of the NATO alliance for safety, however I do no think it was a wise decision. The Ukraine is part of Russia and I believe that this action will cause many disputes, and more fighting between these two alliances.